**3. Competitive use of the sugarcane waste**

There is a correlation between the biomass burned (**Figure 4a**) and CO<sup>2</sup>

Brazil, India and China have the highest level of both parameters. Their magnitude order is of millions of tons, and the magnitude order of sugarcane production by country (**Figure 2**) is higher than biomass burned because the dry matter is a percentage of the crop. In every year of the

increasing, not only by alimentary reasons but also by energetic needs reflected in the use of biomass to generate electric energy and the implementation of ethanol and its derivatives as fuels. Actually there is no particular database in which the available nutrients for every planted period of sugarcane can be found. However, there exists general information that can help to understand the global distribution of soils and nutrients [21]. This information is important due to the volatilization of nutrients during the burning practice in every harvested period. The IPCC's methodologies estimate the greenhouse gas emissions, although other proposals, for example, the Seiler and Crutzen methodology [22], are very useful to know the amount of

study period (1990–-2014), the cane production, biomass burned and emissions of CO<sup>2</sup>

carbon and nitrogen released to the atmosphere during the burning of some crops.

[23] and relates with the production per hectare (yield).

**Table 3.** Aptitude levels of sugarcane. Proposed values for Mexico [24].

weather conditions are different.

92 Sugarcane - Technology and Research

A particular way to identify the conditions in which the sugarcane plantation was carried out is by referencing the values proposed to identify the "aptitude levels of sugarcane." It consists of identifying the soil and weather conditions in which the sugarcane cultivation takes place

According to this methodology implemented for the sugarcane producing regions in Mexico during the period of 1990–2014, the yield per hectare ranked between 81.3 and 92.3 t ha−1 [25]. This shows a high aptitude level for the country. It is not possible to use the same values from **Table 3** for other sugarcane cultivating countries because the edaphological and

**Property High Medium Low Not suitable**

Annual temperature (°C) 22–32 20/22–32/35 18–20 <18 Annual average precipitation (mm) >1500 1250–1500 1250–1000 <1000 Solar radiation (h/year) 1800–2200 1800–1400 1400–1200 <1200

Slope (%) 0–8 8–16 16–30 >30 Altitude (masl) Up to 400 400–850 850–1300 >1300 Texture Loam-Argillaceus Argillaceus Loam-sandy Sandy pH 6.6–7.3 6.1–6.5, 7.4–8.3 5.6–6-0 > 8.3 <5.5 Organic matter (%) >5 3–5 2–3 1–2 Available nitrogen (kg/ha) >300 300–225 225–150 <150 C/N relation 8–12 12–15 15–30 >30 Expected yield (t ha−1) >80 55–80 40–55 <40

Drought severity index Absent Slight Strong to very

emissions (**Figure 4b**).

strong Severe

have been

The sugarcane harvest can be done with or without burn. However, the ways to use the residues depend on the kind of processes involved during the cane lifting [26]. In general, the crop residues can be used as animal feeding and for energy generation. It is also used as a raw material for the production of honey, yeast, alcohol, hydrolyzed products, paper and fertilizers (**Figure 5**) [27].

**Figure 5.** Uses of sugarcane straw [29].


**Table 4.** Correlation between the harvested area and yield per hectare during the period 1990–2014.

Actually, 85% of the world production of liquid biofuels corresponds to ethanol, where the main producers are Brazil and the United States because they contribute to 90% of their world production. The other 10% corresponds to Canada, China, European Union (France and Germany) and India (**Table 4**). The sugarcane plays an important role in the production of

Competitive Management of Sugarcane Waste and Reduction of CO2 Emissions...

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.71531

95

The results shown above can be indicators of the capability of every country to take advantage of the crop residues to use it in an alternative manner. The Pearson correlation analysis between the harvested area and yield per hectare during the period 1900–2014 (**Table 4**) shows that countries such as Brazil and the United States have a better use of the planted soils, but for different reasons. For example, Brazil had a positive trend in both parameters during the studied years (**Figure 6c**), while the United States has increased the harvested hectares

Mexico had a positive trend in the harvested area, at a much higher level than the United States (**Figure 6a** and **b**) or the Philippines. However, the performance per hectare is constant but at lower levels than United States. This situation reveals that countries such as Mexico, Colombia and India have to invest more resources to keep their production levels constant

The generation of waste from this crop in the sugarcane producing countries depends primarily on the performance of sugarcane production. In this context, the major biofuel (ethanol

The biomass (dry matter) available to be burned during the harvest period of sugarcane, play

activity, and its release into the atmosphere can increase or decrease due to other factors such

In this chapter, we can see the important relation between the production levels and harvested areas, an extensive harvest surface not necessarily give high production levels. Countries such as Colombia, Indonesia and Philippines had this behavior in their planted soils in different years. On the other hand, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, the United States, Pakistan and Thailand had a good correlation between both the parameters because when the harvested

During the study period (1990–2014), we can see that Brazil, India and China had the highest quantity of cane waste (dry matter) burned and simultaneously had the better production levels and the major emissions of CO2. In general, the countries analyzed had a positive trend reflected in the annual increase of its emissions, except for the United States which reduced

The countries that kept a good correlation between their yield levels and harvested area during the study period, it is because they have had the infrastructure to prepare their soils adequately and use the cane varieties that can be adapted to each condition presented in every

emission levels generated by the countries that practice this

and biodiesel) producing countries are Brazil, the United States, China and India [30].

this fuel through fermentation and distillation processes [28].

while keeping practically a constant yield per hectare.

and to generate useable residues for alternative uses.

as soil quality, cane varieties used and weather conditions.

hectares increased or decreased, the production levels remain the same.

**4. Conclusions**

an important role in the CO2

its production levels since 2004.

**Figure 6.** Relation between yield per hectare and harvested hectares in the United States (a), Mexico (b) and Brazil (c). 1 hg = 0.0001 t.

Actually, 85% of the world production of liquid biofuels corresponds to ethanol, where the main producers are Brazil and the United States because they contribute to 90% of their world production. The other 10% corresponds to Canada, China, European Union (France and Germany) and India (**Table 4**). The sugarcane plays an important role in the production of this fuel through fermentation and distillation processes [28].

The results shown above can be indicators of the capability of every country to take advantage of the crop residues to use it in an alternative manner. The Pearson correlation analysis between the harvested area and yield per hectare during the period 1900–2014 (**Table 4**) shows that countries such as Brazil and the United States have a better use of the planted soils, but for different reasons. For example, Brazil had a positive trend in both parameters during the studied years (**Figure 6c**), while the United States has increased the harvested hectares while keeping practically a constant yield per hectare.

Mexico had a positive trend in the harvested area, at a much higher level than the United States (**Figure 6a** and **b**) or the Philippines. However, the performance per hectare is constant but at lower levels than United States. This situation reveals that countries such as Mexico, Colombia and India have to invest more resources to keep their production levels constant and to generate useable residues for alternative uses.

The generation of waste from this crop in the sugarcane producing countries depends primarily on the performance of sugarcane production. In this context, the major biofuel (ethanol and biodiesel) producing countries are Brazil, the United States, China and India [30].
